We at TopTenREVIEWS believe there is a TV for everyone: the enthusiast, the conservative, the average viewer—everyone. Whether you want a TV in the kitchen, bedroom, family room, home theater, or to carry one around with you, there’s a television to accommodate. The purpose of this guide is to help narrow your choices to one of seven TV types based on where it will be located.

Location, Location for Your TV

Knowing where it will go is the first decision of many when picking out a new television. Use the table below to identify which television types you’ll have to choose from based upon where it will be located.

In the above table, we set ideal minimums and maximums for each of the five locations as identified adjacent to the location. Below that we’ve listed the range in sizes available from each television type.

The next decision that must be made is the size. Use the table above to now find what television types are available for the size you are looking for.

Continue reading for a description of each of the television types or click the type of television you’re searching for to take you to a side-by-side comparison.

TV Types: Understanding Before You Buy

Projectors

Projectors provide the largest pictures, up to 300-inches (25 feet), and are generally reserved for home theaters and businesses. Projectors sit in front of the image, so you’ll want an unobstructed view from the projector to the screen, usually from the ceiling. Projectors work best when the lighting in the room can be controlled. Well-lit rooms and spaces wash out the image. Also, the farther back the projector sits from the screen, not only will the image get bigger, but the picture will get dimmer. For each projector, brightness will vary, but as a general rule: the brighter the better.

Keep in mind that the projector is only half the equation when projecting your image. It is highly recommended that a projection screen accompany a projector to provide the best results.

If “bigger is better” describes you, a projector may be in your future. Just remember to factor in the cost of a quality screen, tuner and speakers. Together, the right screen and projector will provide stunning brightness and a viewing experience everyone will enjoy. Add great speakers and you can capture the theater experience at home.

LCoS TVs

Liquid Crystal on Silicon, also known as D-ILA (JVC variant) and SXRD (Sony variant), is a direct competitor to DLP as it is also a rear-projection TV ranging in the 50 to 70-inch markets. LCoS is supported by only a handful of manufacturers, currently JVC, Philips, Sony, and Syntax-Brillian; Sony dominates the market. Stunning picture clarity and vivid colors make this set an attractive buy for those seeking the best picture possible.

Quality comes at a cost; prices of LCoS sets will remain higher than that of its rear-projection competitor, DLP, due to the limited number of manufacturers. Also, the lack of wide market penetration indicates higher prices on LCoS sets for the long haul, making this almost exclusively an enthusiast purchase unless you can spare the extra change.

Enthusiasts look no further. If you don’t mind a rear-projection television and are looking for the absolute BEST image quality offered by TVs today, LCoS is the choice for you.

DLP TVs

Digital Light Processing is today’s front-runner in rear projection technology. These displays range in size from 50 to 70-inches and provide vibrant colors with spectacular clarity. Movie enthusiasts will prefer DLP or LCoS to the younger, sleeker LCD and Plasma sets due to their capability of reproducing life-like images and realistic colors.

In the past, DLP TVs had reports of limited viewing angles, or not being able to see the picture clearly unless seated directly in front of the television at eye-level. Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to correct this, but to ensure that your DLP TV will meet your needs I recommend you examine this further on a live display.

If you can manage the added depth and are looking for a 50 to 70-inch television for your family room or home theater, DLP is a cheaper alternative to LCoS and still provides a spectacular viewing experience.

LCD TVs

Liquid Crystal Displays now make up more than 50% of the HD television market. Ranging in size from 9 to 108-inches, LCD also offers the largest variety in size over any other current technology. When examining an LCD TV closely, the picture will likely reveal a “screen door” effect, where you can see the grid of individual pixels as if a screen door was in front of the monitor. This is more noticeable in some models, so pay close attention as you shop to find what is tolerable for you. Other than that, colors are vibrant, brightness is high (in 2007 models and later), and you’re likely to find an LCD TV suitable for any size or space.

Dead pixels have historically plagued the LCD TVs, scaring off many potential buyers. As competition became more fierce, quality assurance improved and some manufacturers currently offer a “zero defective pixel guarantee,” so you can buy with confidence.

Should you prefer a smaller HD display, or like a less expensive flat panel for hanging on the wall, an LCD TV is a safe, long-lasting choice.

Plasma TVs

All plasma displays are “flat panel”, but not all “flat panel” displays are plasmas. To make things clear, plasmas were the first flat panel display to market, and the term plasma is still used, though incorrectly, to refer to “flat panel” displays. Plasmas enter the market at 37-inches and reach a current maximum of 150-inches. They also carry the widest viewing angle among competitors (although that gap is narrowing) and are valued for their high contrast ratios, or the ability to present dark, rich blacks, and brilliant whites. The natural colors and feel to the plasma carries with it a very cinematic appeal.

Plasma TV sales have dropped significantly as LCD TVs continue to dominate the flat-panel market. Plasmas tend to be heavier, hotter, more susceptible to burn-in, and have lower life expectancies than LCD TVs. However, in 2007 a coalition formed among top manufacturers that will attempt to revitalize the plasma display, bringing Full HD (read 1080p) sets to market that will directly compete against the top-rated LCDs.

If you’re looking for a flat-panel with the highest contrast ratios and viewing angles, a plasma TV is a good choice. Just be sure to compare similar LCD models as their technologies are evolving rapidly and they are generally less expensive.

Standard TVs

Standard televisions, also known as CRT or “tube” TVs, are becoming difficult to find these days. Most manufacturers have opted to join the HD markets with the arrival of all-digital signals in February 2009. That’s not to say you can’t find a tube TV with HD capabilities. You can find some great deals on 20 to 32-inch sets when compared to their flat-panel competitors, some less than half the price.

So, if it’s a budget TV you seek, or just would like another for a bedroom, kitchen, or even a garage, stabdard tube TVs are great values and still capable of providing some HD options.

Portable TVs

Most portable televisions use LCD technology due to its light power requirements and low-profile capabilities. This means that portable players suffer from the same drawbacks of a normal LCD panel such as the “screen door effect” and poor viewing angles. However, portable TVs are great for traveling and family vacations. Many also provide inputs from which you can watch your favorite DVDs or play video games.

Portable TVs make great companions for those on the go, or who require a small set in a kitchen, garage, or bathroom.

See Our Top TV Rankings Before You Shop

Now that you’re familiar with the various types of televisions and the technologies behind them, go back to the table above and click on the type that suits your needs for a side-by-side comparison of similar models. Each TV site contains our review, other expert reviews and user reviews. Each product is ranked on an overall best value score and displayed in the easy to use side-by-side comparison chart. At TopTenREVIEWS— We do the research so you don’t have to.